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Abstract Background Accurate prediction of postoperative vault in implantable collamer lens (ICL) implantation is crucial; however, current formulas often fail to account for individual anatomical variations, leading to suboptimal visual outcomes and necessitating improved predictive models. We aimed to verify the prediction accuracy of our new predictive model for vaulting based on anterior and posterior chamber structural parameters. Methods This retrospective observational study included 137 patients (240 eyes) who previously underwent ICL surgery. Patients were randomly divided into the model establishment (192 eyes) or validation (48 eyes) groups. Preoperative measurements of the anterior and posterior chamber structures were obtained using Pentacam, CASIA2 anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT), ultrasound biomicroscopy, and other devices. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between the vault and each variable (WL formula). The Friedman test was performed for the vaulting prediction results of the WL, NK (Ver. 3), and KS formulas (Ver. 4) in CASIA2 AS-OCT, as well as the Zhu formula and vault measurements. The proportions of prediction error within ± 250 μm per formula were compared. Results The predicted vault values of the WL, NK, KS, and Zhu formulas and vault measurements were 668.74 ± 162.12, 650.85 ± 248.47, 546.56 ± 128.99, 486.56 ± 210.76, and 716.06 ± 233.84 μm, respectively, with a significant difference (χ2 = 69.883, P = 0.000). Significant differences were also found between the measured vault value and Zhu formula, measured vault value and KS formula, WL formula and Zhu formula, WL formula and KS formula, NK formula and KS formula, and NK formula and Zhu formula (P NK formula (70.8%) > KS formula (66.7%) > Zhu formula (54.2%). Conclusions The WL formula, which considers the complexity of the anterior and posterior chamber structures, demonstrates greater calculation accuracy, compared with the KS (Ver. 4) and Zhu formulas. The proportion of absolute prediction error ≤ 250 μm is higher with the WL formula than with the NK formula (ver. 3). This enhanced predictive capability can improve ICL sizing decisions, thereby increasing the safety and efficacy of ICL implantation surgeries.

Freshwater crabs play essential roles in the well-functioning of the inland aquatic ecosystems. However, due to the lack of sufficient molecular resources, the study of freshwater crabs has been greatly hindered. In this study, the mitochondrial genome of Huananpotamon koatenense, a freshwater crab endemic to China, was sequenced for the first time. This mitogenome sequence is 15,528 bp long, and contains 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes and 22 tRNA genes. Phylogenetic analyses based on 25 mitogenomes showed that H. koatenense was clustered with the known congeneric species of H. lichuanense.

Abstract The quantitative extraction and evolution stage identification of the Nitraria tangutorum nebkhas are the basis for the restoration of regional plants and the reconstruction of degraded ecosystems. In this paper, the Nitraria tangutorum nebkha in Dengkou County of China was taken as the research object. Through the spectral and texture information of Gaofen-2 satellite image, the quantitative extraction of Nitraria tangutorum nebkha area and coverage information was completed using methods of gray threshold method, mathematical morphology, FCLSU mixed pixel decomposition, kernel density spatial analysis; the current evolution stage of the Nitraria tangutorum nebkha was identified, and their spatial distribution characteristics were analyzed. The results showed that: (1) The user accuracy and mapping accuracy of Nitraria tangutorum nebkha extracted from Random Forest combined with object-oriented classification method were up to 90.32%. (2) The method proposed can achieve an accuracy of 93.76% in extracting the spatial position of Nitraria tangutorum nebkhas. (3) The evolution of Nitraria tangutorum nebkhas can be divided into three stages: embryonic or developmental stage, stable stage, and declining stage, with a proportion of 60.70%, 20.97%, and 18.33%, respectively; The Nitraria tangutorum nebkhas in the study area is mainly in their embryonic or developmental stage, and the proportion of Nitraria tangutorum nebkhas in the declining stage is also large. It can provide technical and theoretical support for the precise extraction of nebkhas in arid and semi-arid desert areas, the identification of their current evolutionary stages, and the study of their spatial distribution patterns.

With the continuous development of modified starch, people's demand for the functional characteristics, safety, and convenience of modified starch has increased significantly. Pre-gelatinized starch (PGS) is a type of starch modified by physical methods, which is a modified starch particle without obvious crystallization obtained by rapid dehydration and drying after starch gelatinization. PGS has a porous and hydrogen-bonded fracture structure, which has the advantages of good cold water solubility, strong water retention ability and high viscoelasticity. Cold water can be mixed into paste during application, eliminating the step of heating and gelatinization. Therefore, as a biodegradable raw material with excellent performance, PGS has important application value in the fields of flour products, low-temperature meat products, condiments and other leisure starch-based foods. This paper briefly introduces the definition, preparation methods, properties, and influencing factors of PGS performance, focuses on the current application status of PGS in starch-based foods, and points out the future research direction of PGS in the field of food, aiming to provide some references for promoting the application of PGS in the food industry.

Starch provides essential calories for the body's vital activities, but it usually has a high glycemic index. The digestion of starch tends to lead to a steep increase in blood sugar levels, insulin resistance and health risk. The digestibility of starch is related to its multi-scale structure. The regulations of starch digestibility can be achieved by altering its multi-scale structure through the modifications. However, the physical modification has received more and more attention due to its safety, simplicity and environmental friendliness. Based on this, the digestibility of starch is outlined. The relationship between the multi-scale structure and digestive properties of starch is analyzed. The digestive properties of starch regulated by physical modifications, such as hydrothermal treatment, microwave, extrusion, high-pressure homogenization, ultrasonic, cold plasma and physical encapsulation are reviewed. The future research directions on starch digestibility are also provided.

Abstract Background Lung cancer is a common cause of brain metastases, approximately 40% of patients with lung cancer will develop brain metastases at some point during their disease. Hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (HSRT) has been demonstrated to be effective in controlling limited brain metastases. However, there is still no conclusive on the optimal segmentation of HSRT. The aim of our study was to explore the correlation between the HSRT dosage and its treatment effect and toxicity. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) brain metastasis at Hangzhou Cancer Hospital from 1 January 2019 to 1 January 2021. The number of brain metastases did not exceed 10 in all patients and the number of fractions of HSRT was 5. The prescription dose ranges from 25 to 40 Gy. The Kaplan–Meier method was used for estimation of the localised intracranial control rate (iLC). Adverse radiation effects (AREs) were evaluated according to CTCAE 5.0. This study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Review Board of the Hangzhou Cancer Hospital (#73/HZCH-2022). Results Forty eligible patients with a total of 70 brain metastases were included in this study. The 1-year iLC was 76% and 89% in the prescribed dose ≤ 30 Gy and > 30 Gy group, respectively (P

Abstract Background The presence of depression related to an increased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality has been reported. However, studies conducted on certain specific depressive symptoms are scarce. Our purpose was to assess the effect of both depressive symptoms scores and certain specific depressive symptoms on all-cause and CVD mortality. Methods In the present cohort study, all participants, aged 18 years or older, were enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2005 to 2014. Depressive symptoms score was assessed using the validated 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire Depression Scale (PHQ-9), which ranges from 0 to 27, with a PHQ-9 score ≥ 10 diagnosed as depression. The outcome events were all-cause and CVD mortality, which were followed up from 2005 to 2014. The associations of both depressive symptoms score and certain specific depressive symptoms with all-cause and CVD mortality were examined by weighted multivariable proportional hazards models. Results A total of 26,028 participants aged ≥ 18 years were included in the statistical analysis, including 12,813 (49.2%) males and 13,215 (50.8%) females, with a mean (SD) age of 47.34 (18.86) years. During the 9.32 (3.20) years of mean (SD) follow-up, 3261 deaths were recorded, of which 826 were cardiovascular deaths. All-cause mortality was 16.87/1000 person-years in subjects with depression. In terms of CVD mortality, these figures were 4.53/1000 person-years. In the full model (model 3), elevated depressive symptoms scores were independently associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality (Highest depression symptom score group: adjusted hazard ratio, 1.63; 95% CI 1.44–1.85) and CVD mortality (Highest depression symptom score group: adjusted hazard ratio, 1.73; 95% CI 1.34–2.24). All 9 specific depressive symptoms that make up the PHQ-9 were related to an increased risk of all-cause mortality. However, only 3 symptoms, including trouble sleeping or sleeping too much, poor appetite or overeating, and suicidal ideation, were no significantly associated with an increased risk of CVD mortality. Conclusions The elevated depressive symptoms scores were strongly associated with an increased risk of all-cause and CVD mortality in US adults. Furthermore, all 9 specific depressive symptoms were associated with high all-cause mortality. However, trouble sleeping or sleeping too much, poor appetite or overeating, and suicidal ideation might not increase the risk of CVD mortality.

In response to the challenging task of accurately identifying the main hazard-causing layer of overlying strata in the coal mine surface hydraulic fracturing construction, this study focuses on the industrial test of ground hydraulic fracturing at the 401102 working face of the Mengcun Coal Mine. The research is conducted using the methods of theoretical analysis, microseismic monitoring, and on-site investigation to reveal the dynamic disaster mechanism of mine earthquakes and rock bursts induced by the movement of thick and hard overlying strata in the coal mines. The relationship between the movement characteristics of thick and hard overlying strata based on a three-zone structure loading model of overlying strata and induced dynamic disasters is analyzed, and a prediction model for mining seismic energy and an estimation model for equivalent additional stress in mining areas based on the movement state of key layers are established. A coal mine identification technology for the main hazard-causing layer of overlying strata is proposed based on the K-means clustering algorithm and the elbow rule. The construction layer for hydraulic fracturing is determined, and an industrial test is carried out on-site. The effectiveness is verified based on the microseismic monitoring data and theoretical analysis results, leading to the following conclusions. In the Mengcun Coal Mine’s 401102 working face, both the key stratum responsible for rock bursts and mine seismic activities can be traced to the R9 key stratum of the Anding Group, situated 66 meters away from the coal seam. The primary fracturing movement of this critical stratum R9 imparts an equivalent supplementary disturbance stress value of 7.23 MPa, with the seismic energy liberated by this initial rupture motion quantifying to 6.08×105 J, thereby indicating a pronounced susceptibility towards catastrophic occurrences. After fracturing the key layer which induces mining earthquakes and rock bursts, the theoretical value of the mine earthquake energy is reduced by 94%, and the theoretical value of the equivalent disturbance stress of the working face is reduced by 76%. High-energy microseismic events above the working face with an energy of 5×103 J show a noticeable upward trend, with an upward movement of approximately 15 m. The frequency ratio of microseismic events with an energy level of 103 J or higher significantly decreases from 60.39% to 17.89%, and the maximum microseismic event energy decreases from 6.65×105 J to 9.75×103 J. The proportion of microseismic events with an energy level of 102 J and below significantly increases from 39.61% to 82.11%.

Abstract Refraction is a basic beam bending effect at two media’s interface. While traditional studies focus on stationary boundaries, moving boundaries or potentials could enable new laws of refractions. Meanwhile, media’s discretization plays a pivotal role in refraction owing to Galilean invariance breaking principle in discrete-wave mechanics, making refraction highly moving-speed dependent. Here, by harnessing a synthetic temporal lattice in a fiber-loop circuit, we observe discrete time refraction by a moving gauge-potential barrier. We unveil the selection rules for the potential moving speed, which can only take an integer v = 1 or fractional v = 1/q (odd q) value to guarantee a well-defined refraction. We observe reflectionless/reflective refractions for v = 1 and v = 1/3 speeds, transparent potentials with vanishing refraction/reflection, refraction of dynamic moving potential and refraction for relativistic Zitterbewegung effect. Our findings may feature applications in versatile time control and measurement for optical communications and signal processing.

Abstract The current mature Simultaneous Localisation And Mapping (SLAM) algorithms, when applied to tunnel scenarios with point cloud degradation and poor lighting conditions, often lead to a sharp increase in the estimated attitude error of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), or even prevent the UAV from moving autonomously due to severe feature degradation. To address the above problems, the authors propose a SLAM algorithm based on factor graph optimisation, Iterative Closest Point and Normal Distributions Transform algorithms. A front‐end point cloud registration module and a back‐end construction algorithm based on filtering and graph optimisation are designed. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, experiments are conducted on KITTI dataset and real tunnel scenes, and compared with LiDAR Odometry and Mapping (LOAM) and lightweight and ground optimised (LeGO)‐LOAM algorithms. The results show that the average processing time of the proposed method is about 75 ms, which can meet the real‐time requirements of autonomous aerial vehicles. Compared with LOAM and LeGO‐LOAM in the real tunnel experiment, the proposed method shows the tunnel 3D map construction.

Abstract Carboxylic acids are widely available and generally inexpensive from abundant biomass feedstocks, and they are suitable and generic coupling partners in synthetic chemistry. Reported herein is an electroreductive coupling of stable and versatile carboxylic acids with (hetero)arenes using protons as the hydrogen source. The application of an earth-abundant titanium catalyst has significantly improved the deoxygenative reduction process. Preliminary mechanistic studies provide insights into the deoxygenative reduction of in-situ generated ketone pathway, and the intermediacy generation of ketyl radical and alkylidene titanocene. Without the necessity of pressurized hydrogen or stoichiometric hydride as reductants, this protocol enables highly selective and straightforward synthesis of various functionalized and structurally diverse alkylbenzenes under mild conditions. The utility of this reaction is further demonstrated through practical and valuable isotope incorporation from readily available deuterium source.

Abstract Osteosarcoma is a primary malignant tumor that commonly affects children and adolescents, with a poor prognosis. The existence of tumor heterogeneity leads to different molecular subtypes and survival outcomes. Recently, lipid metabolism has been identified as a critical characteristic of cancer. Therefore, our study aims to identify osteosarcoma's lipid metabolism molecular subtype and develop a signature for survival outcome prediction. Four multicenter cohorts—TARGET-OS, GSE21257, GSE39058, and GSE16091—were amalgamated into a unified Meta-Cohort. Through consensus clustering, novel molecular subtypes within Meta-Cohort patients were delineated. Subsequent feature selection processes, encompassing analyses of differentially expressed genes between subtypes, univariate Cox analysis, and StepAIC, were employed to pinpoint biomarkers related to lipid metabolism in TARGET-OS. We selected the most effective algorithm for constructing a Lipid Metabolism-Related Signature (LMRS) by utilizing four machine-learning algorithms reconfigured into ten unique combinations. This selection was based on achieving the highest concordance index (C-index) in the test cohort of GSE21257, GSE39058, and GSE16091. We identified two distinct lipid metabolism molecular subtypes in osteosarcoma patients, C1 and C2, with significantly different survival rates. C1 is characterized by increased cholesterol, fatty acid synthesis, and ketone metabolism. In contrast, C2 focuses on steroid hormone biosynthesis, arachidonic acid, and glycerolipid and linoleic acid metabolism. Feature selection in the TARGET-OS identified 12 lipid metabolism genes, leading to a model predicting osteosarcoma patient survival. The LMRS, based on the 12 identified genes, consistently accurately predicted prognosis across TARGET-OS, testing cohorts, and Meta-Cohort. Incorporating 12 published signatures, LMRS showed robust and significantly superior predictive capability. Our results offer a promising tool to enhance the clinical management of osteosarcoma, potentially leading to improved clinical outcomes.

Abstract Background Drug repurposing provides a cost-effective approach to address the need for lung cancer prevention and therapeutics. We aimed to identify actionable druggable targets using Mendelian randomization (MR). Methods Summary-level data of gene expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) were sourced from the eQTLGen resource. We procured genetic associations with lung cancer and its subtypes from the TRICL, ILCCO studies (discovery) and the FinnGen study (replication). We implemented Summary-data-based Mendelian Randomization analysis to identify potential therapeutic targets for lung cancer. Colocalization analysis was further conducted to assess whether the identified signal pairs shared a causal genetic variant. Findings In the main analysis dataset, we identified 55 genes that demonstrate a causal relationship with lung cancer and its subtypes. However, in the replication cohort, only three genes were found to have such a causal association with lung cancer and its subtypes, and of these, HYKK (also known as AGPHD1) was consistently present in both the primary analysis dataset and the replication cohort. Following HEIDI tests and colocalization analyses, it was revealed that HYKK (AGPHD1) is associated with an increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung, with an odds ratio and confidence interval of OR = 1.28,95%CI = 1.24 to 1.33. Interpretation We have found that the HYKK (AGPHD1) gene is associated with an increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung, suggesting that this gene may represent a potential therapeutic target for both the prevention and treatment of lung squamous cell carcinoma.

Abstract Biochar-based sulfidized nano-sized zero-valent iron (SNZVI/BC) can effectively immobilize cadmium (Cd) in contaminated paddy soils. However, the synergistic effects between biochar and SNZVI on Cd immobilization, as well as the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Herein, a soil microcosm incubation experiment was performed to investigate the immobilization performance of SNZVI/BC towards Cd in the contaminated paddy soil. Results indicated that the addition of SNZVI/BC at a dosage of 3% significantly lessened the concentration of available Cd in the contaminated soil from 14.9 (without addition) to 9.9 mg kg−1 with an immobilization efficiency of 33.3%, indicating a synergistic effect. The sequential extraction results indicated that the proportion of the residual Cd in the contaminated soil increased from 8.1 to 10.3%, manifesting the transformation of the unstable Cd fractions to the steadier specie after application of SNZVI/BC. Also, the addition of SNZVI/BC increased soil pH, organic matter, and dissolved organic carbon, which significantly altered the bacterial community in the soil, enriching the relative abundances of functional microbes (e.g., Bacillus, Clostridium, and Desulfosporosinus). These functional microorganisms further facilitated the generation of ammonium, nitrate, and ferrous iron in the contaminated paddy soil, enhancing nutrients’ availability. The direct interaction between SNZVI/BC and Cd2+, the altered soil physicochemical properties, and the responded bacterial community played important roles in Cd immobilization in the contaminated soil. Overall, the biochar-based SNZVI is a promising candidate for the effective immobilization of Cd and the improvement of nutrients’ availability in the contaminated paddy soil. Graphical Abstract

China exhibits remarkable diversity of the spider genus Belisana Thorell, 1898, with 62 species recorded to date. However, the largest number of Belisana species was found in Yunnan Province (23 ssp.), while only seven species were found in Guizhou Province.In this paper, Belisana wangchengi sp. nov. as a new species is described from Guizhou Province, China.

The accurate fenestration, screw implantation and assisting stabilizing‐plate placement in surgery of benign tumors in the proximal femur needs be defined easily. The aim of this study was to investigate the value of 3D printed multifunctional guides plate (3D‐MGP) based on computer aided design. Between January 2020 and June 2022, 17 patients (nine females and eight males) with benign proximal femoral tumor had lesion curettage and allograft combined with internal plate fixation using 3D‐MGP. In this study, the patients had CT scans and a technician reconstructed the 3D images of tumor and the femur, a doctor designed the location and margin of the fenestration and screws, and integrated different functions into MGP for benign proximal femoral lesions, which assisted in precise localization, fenestration and screw drilling. Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) scoring was used to evaluate lower extremity function. Bone healing and the screws location was assessed with the radiographs. All patients underwent successful surgery with complete resection of the tumor and internal fixation with using the 3D‐MGP. The mean follow‐up was 16.4 months. The operative time was 126.47 ± 18.44 min, intraoperative bleeding was 198.23 ± 67.94 mL, intraoperative fluoroscopy was 6.47 ± 0.62, postoperative drainage was 223.82 ± 119.51 mL, and MSTS score was 27.29 ± 1.31 points. There were no unplanned fenestration and improper screw fixation. The 3D‐MGP enabled personalized and accurate location of tumor, fenestration, screw placement and assisted stabilizing‐plate placement for the treatment of benign tumor of the proximal femur. This technique has the potential to shorten operative times, decrease intraoperative bleeding, and reduce radiation exposure to patients.

In order to investigate the effects of different degrees of substitution (DS) on physicochemical properties of rice starch malate and on the quality of noodles, rice starch malate with different degrees of substitution (DS=0~0.603) was prepared. The solubility, swelling, gelatinization and rheological properties of rice starch malate were investigated, as well as its improvement effect on the cooking characteristics, texture characteristics and sensory characteristics of noodles. The results indicated that a new absorption peak appeared at a spectral wavenumber of approximately 1720 cm−1 on the infrared spectrum curve of malic acid starch esters. After esterification, the solubility of starch significantly increased (P

Background and objective: Few studies on endoscopic management of primary obstructive megaureter (POM) in adult patients have been reported. Our objective was to describe our technique and long-term outcomes for endoscopic management of adult POM. Methods: We included 76 adult POM patients undergoing endoscopic management between September 2015 and January 2024. Under endoscopic control, the stricture was dilated to 24–30 Fr while maintaining a balloon pressure of 25–35 atm for 3 min. An additional incision of the stenotic ring using either an electrode or holmium laser was performed in 39 patients. Data for patient characteristics, intraoperative variables, surgical complications, and follow-up results were analyzed. A descriptive statistical analysis was performed. Surgical success was defined as no tubes or stents in the body, stable or improved symptoms and renal function, and the absence of reflux or obstruction during the follow-up period. Key findings and limitations: All procedures were completed without conversion to open or laparoscopic surgery. The median operative time was 45 min (range 16–165) with median estimated blood loss of 2 ml (range 0–150). The median postoperative hospital stay was 3 d (range 1–15). No intraoperative complication occurred. At median postoperative follow-up of 42 mo (range 3–100) the overall success rate was 92.1%. Restenosis of the vesicoureteral junction (Clavien-Dindo grade III) occurred in five patients (6.6%), and high-grade vesicoureteral reflux occurred in one patient (1.3%), all of whom required secondary reconstruction surgery. Conclusions and clinical implications: The results indicate that our endoscopic management for adult POM is safe and effective, with favorable long-term outcomes. This approach could potentially serve as a first-line treatment option for adult POM. Patient summary: Primary obstructive megaureter (POM) occurs when the flow of urine is blocked because of a narrow segment in the tube between the kidney and bladder (ureter), which causes widening of the ureter further up. For our minimally invasive technique, a telescope is inserted through the urethra and bladder to reach the ureter for surgical treatment. Our results show that this is a safe procedure for POM in adults.

To ensure optimal penetration in direct current (DC) argon tungsten arc welding, a method was proposed to recognize the molten pool penetration during molten pool oscillation under alternating cusp-shaped magnetic field (ACSMF). An arc discharge model is established to analyze the oscillation mechanism of the molten pool under ACSMF. The periodic variation of arc shape induces the periodic oscillation to establish a mapping relationship with the fluctuation of arc voltage waveform. At the excitation current of 3 A and frequency of 10 Hz, the arc voltage waveform undergoes abrupt changes at 1.26 V and 1.37 V, corresponding to the critical and the full penetration states, respectively. The errors in identifying moving penetration are 0.8 % and 0.7 %, with a full penetration weld, demonstrating a penetration rate of 100 %, indicating effective penetration recognition. Arc sensing technology for tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding under ACSMF is poised for gradual application in single-side welding and double-side forming of medium and thick plates. It is anticipated to evolve towards real-time identification technology for molten pool penetration monitoring.

Activated carbon (AC) materials, renowned for their high specific surface area, excellent conductivity, and customizable functional groups, are widely employed as catalyst carriers. However, enhancing the activity of Ru-based catalysts supported on AC (Ru/AC) for ammonia decomposition remains a challenge. In this study, commercial AC was utilized as a substrate, with glucose and urea employed as modifiers. Specifically, the surface of the AC was modified via a hydrothermal pyrolysis method, resulting in the successful post-treatment in situ co-doping of nitrogen (AC-GN). Experimental results revealed that Ru/AC-GN exhibited a hydrogen production rate 46% higher than that of Ru/AC at 475 °C, indicating improved activity and stability. The characterization of AC-GN demonstrated that nitrogen doping primarily occurred on the external surface and macropores of the AC, increasing the nitrogen content in the carrier, particularly pyrrolic nitrogen content, while preserving the original structural and morphological integrity of the AC. The enhanced dispersion of Ru, combined with the improved electronic transmission capabilities and strengthened interactions between the metal and the modified carrier, were identified as pivotal factors contributing to the enhanced low-temperature efficacy of Ru/AC-GN. This paper presents a novel direction for the large-scale preparation of efficient catalysts for ammonia decomposition.

Objective To understand the refracture and mortality rate of elderly patients with fragility fractures within 5 years,and in order to identify relevant influencing factors. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 775 elderly patients with brittle fractures admitted to the Orthopedics Department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University from January 2015 to December 2016.The patient's refracture and death rates within 5 years were analyzed through telephone consultation combined with the hospital′s electronic medical record system.The impact of refracture and death was analyzed using a Cox risk ratio model. Results 634 patients were effectively followed up within 5 years,with an overall refracture rate of 16.25%(103 cases) and a mortality rate of 32.97%(209 cases) within 5 years.Cox multiple regression analysis showed that age,first vertebral fracture were independent risk factors for refracture(P

Abstract Objectives Homopolymer (HP) sequencing is error-prone in next-generation sequencing (NGS) assays, and may induce false insertion/deletions and substitutions. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of dichromatic and tetrachromatic fluorogenic NGS platforms when sequencing homopolymeric regions. Results A HP-containing plasmid was constructed and diluted to serial frequencies (3%, 10%, 30%, 60%) to determine the performance of an MGISEQ-2000, MGISEQ-200, and NextSeq 2000 in HP sequencing. An evident negative correlation was observed between the detected frequencies of four nucleotide HPs and the HP length. Significantly decreased rates (P

Abstract Background Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICCA) is a heterogeneous group of malignant tumors characterized by high recurrence rate and poor prognosis. Heterochromatin Protein 1α (HP1α) is one of the most important nonhistone chromosomal proteins involved in transcriptional silencing via heterochromatin formation and structural maintenance. The effect of HP1α on the progression of ICCA remained unclear. Methods The effect on the proliferation of ICCA was detected by experiments in two cell lines and two ICCA mouse models. The interaction between HP1α and Histone Deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) was determined using Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (ESI-MS) and the binding mechanism was studied using immunoprecipitation assays (co-IP). The target gene was screened out by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). The occupation of DNA binding proteins and histone modifications were predicted by bioinformatic methods and evaluated by Cleavage Under Targets and Tagmentation (CUT & Tag) and Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). Results HP1α was upregulated in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICCA) tissues and regulated the proliferation of ICCA cells by inhibiting the interferon pathway in a Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 1 (STAT1)-dependent manner. Mechanistically, STAT1 is transcriptionally regulated by the HP1α-HDAC1 complex directly and epigenetically via promoter binding and changes in different histone modifications, as validated by high-throughput sequencing. Broad-spectrum HDAC inhibitor (HDACi) activates the interferon pathway and inhibits the proliferation of ICCA cells by downregulating HP1α and targeting the heterodimer. Broad-spectrum HDACi plus interferon preparation regimen was found to improve the antiproliferative effects and delay ICCA development in vivo and in vitro, which took advantage of basal activation as well as direct activation of the interferon pathway. HP1α participates in mediating the cellular resistance to both agents. Conclusions HP1α-HDAC1 complex influences interferon pathway activation by directly and epigenetically regulating STAT1 in transcriptional level. The broad-spectrum HDACi plus interferon preparation regimen inhibits ICCA development, providing feasible strategies for ICCA treatment. Targeting the HP1α-HDAC1-STAT1 axis is a possible strategy for treating ICCA, especially HP1α-positive cases.

With the continuous increase of coal mining depth, the occurrence and prevention of deep rockburst in China have become normalized. In order to improve the effectiveness of deep rockburst prevention and control technology, starting from the technical difficulties of deep rockburst prevention and control in on-site engineering, combined with practical data statistics of disaster prevention and control engineering, this study demonstrates that the deep rockburst in China is due to its high geological stress and large range of human mining disturbance. The stress recovery of surrounding rock is fast after rock stress unloading during the disaster prevention and control process. The low effectiveness of rockburst prevention and control can be attributed to the new requirements of “three highs and one low” prevention and control technology in deep mining compared to that in shallow mining, including high-strength large-sized drilling to relieve pressure, in order to solve the collapse prone problem of thick and hard coal seams; small spacing high-density drilling to solve the problem of disconnected pressure relief range in drilling; multiple rounds of repeated high-frequency construction to solve the problem of rapid stress recovery after unloading pressure in deep coal seams; and the mining face is advancing at a low speed to solve the problem of high mining disturbance intensity. In response to the new requirements of “three highs and one low” prevention and control mode for deep rockburst, in order to further improve the safety and reliability of rockburst prevention and control, and based on the limitations of optimizing development and mining deployment for conventional source rockburst prevention and control, this paper proposes the technology of actively regulating the structure and load of overlying rock layers in the deep rockburst prevention and control areas, and presents some further scientific problems that need to be solved. Against the background of several typical rockburst accidents in recent years with the problem of “missed targets” in the prevention and control plans, a local targeted prevention and control technology for deep rockburst mining space has been developed, and the scientific challenges that need to be solved in the future have been pointed out. Against the background of the difficulty in evaluating safety issues after the implementation of coal mine rockburst prevention and control measures, a deep rockburst prevention and control unloading standard evaluation technology is proposed, and the scientific difficulties that need to be solved in the future are pointed out. The coal industry vigorously promotes intelligent mining, but the disaster control still relies on manual labor and personnel to operate in a high-risk environment. This paper also explores the emerging research direction and scientific challenges of intelligent mining and intelligent prevention and control of deep rockburst. Finally, it is objectively pointed out that the prevention and control of rockburst is not purely a theoretical and technical issue, and the human understanding of technical issues is also one of the important reasons for rockburst accidents. Combining with the on-site engineering practice, this paper discusses the concept and mechanism of rockburst, whether rockburst can be predicted, whether rockburst can be prevented and controlled, and how to deal with rockburst mines and other industry focused technical issues. It is pointed out that the problem of rockburst engineering is a struggle between humans and nature, which requires practitioners to objectively understand, objectively accept, and conduct in-depth research. The current achievement is of significance.

Abstract To investigate the predictive value of baseline platelet count and its short-term dynamic changes in the prognosis of patients with acute heart failure (AHF) in the intensive care unit. Patients diagnosed with AHF in the medical information mart for intensive care III and their clinical data were retrospectively filtered. Patients were divided into survivor and non-survivor groups based on their prognosis during hospitalization, and differences in baseline data between groups were compared. Logistic regression models and restricted cubic spline (RCS) plots were performed to evaluate the relationship between baseline platelet counts and in-hospital mortality. Changes and trends in platelet counts were compared between the survivor and non-survivor groups after adjusting for confounders with the generalized additive mixing model (GAMM). A total of 2930 critical patients with acute heart failure were included, of which 2720 were survivors and 210 were non-survivors. Multiple logistic regression models revealed that baseline platelet count was an independent factor in hospital mortality (OR 0.997, 95% CI 0.994–0.999, P-value = 0.018). The RCS plot demonstrated a U-shaped dose–response relationship between baseline platelet count and in-hospital mortality. GAMM analysis suggested that the platelet counts decreased and then increased in the survivor group and gradually decreased in the non-survivor group, with a gradual increase of difference between two groups. After adjusting for confounders, the mean daily increase was −6.014 (95% CI −7.076–4.953, P-value

Abstract Transcription termination factor ρ is a hexameric, RNA-dependent NTPase that can adopt active closed-ring and inactive open-ring conformations. The Sm-like protein Rof, a homolog of the RNA chaperone Hfq, inhibits ρ-dependent termination in vivo but recapitulation of this activity in vitro has proven difficult and the precise mode of Rof action is presently unknown. Here, our cryo-EM structures of ρ-Rof and ρ-RNA complexes show that Rof undergoes pronounced conformational changes to bind ρ at the protomer interfaces, undercutting ρ conformational dynamics associated with ring closure and occluding extended primary RNA-binding sites that are also part of interfaces between ρ and RNA polymerase. Consistently, Rof impedes ρ ring closure, ρ-RNA interactions and ρ association with transcription elongation complexes. Structure-guided mutagenesis coupled with functional assays confirms that the observed ρ-Rof interface is required for Rof-mediated inhibition of cell growth and ρ-termination in vitro. Bioinformatic analyses reveal that Rof is restricted to Pseudomonadota and that the ρ-Rof interface is conserved. Genomic contexts of rof differ between Enterobacteriaceae and Vibrionaceae, suggesting distinct modes of Rof regulation. We hypothesize that Rof and other cellular anti-terminators silence ρ under diverse, but yet to be identified, stress conditions when unrestrained transcription termination by ρ may be detrimental.

Abstract Background The metabolic benefits of bariatric surgery that contribute to the alleviation of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) have been reported. However, the processes and mechanisms underlying the contribution of lipid metabolic reprogramming after bariatric surgery to attenuating MASLD remain elusive. Methods A case–control study was designed to evaluate the impact of three of the most common adipokines (Nrg4, leptin, and adiponectin) on hepatic steatosis in the early recovery phase following sleeve gastrectomy (SG). A series of rodent and cell line experiments were subsequently used to determine the role and mechanism of secreted adipokines following SG in the alleviation of MASLD. Results In morbidly obese patients, an increase in circulating Nrg4 levels is associated with the alleviation of hepatic steatosis in the early recovery phase following SG before remarkable weight loss. The temporal parameters of the mice confirmed that an increase in circulating Nrg4 levels was initially stimulated by SG and contributed to the beneficial effect of SG on hepatic lipid deposition. Moreover, this occurred early following bariatric surgery. Mechanistically, gain- and loss-of-function studies in mice or cell lines revealed that circulating Nrg4 activates ErbB4, which could positively regulate fatty acid oxidation in hepatocytes to reduce intracellular lipid deposition. Conclusions This study demonstrated that the rapid effect of SG on hepatic lipid metabolic reprogramming mediated by circulating Nrg4 alleviates MASLD.

Abstract RNA polymerases must transit through protein roadblocks to produce full-length transcripts. Here we report real-time measurements of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase passing through different barriers. As intuitively expected, assisting forces facilitated, and opposing forces hindered, RNA polymerase passage through lac repressor protein bound to natural binding sites. Force-dependent differences were significant at magnitudes as low as 0.2 pN and were abolished in the presence of the transcript cleavage factor GreA, which rescues backtracked RNA polymerase. In stark contrast, opposing forces promoted passage when the rate of RNA polymerase backtracking was comparable to, or faster than the rate of dissociation of the roadblock, particularly in the presence of GreA. Our experiments and simulations indicate that RNA polymerase may transit after roadblocks dissociate, or undergo cycles of backtracking, recovery, and ramming into roadblocks to pass through. We propose that such reciprocating motion also enables RNA polymerase to break protein-DNA contacts that hold RNA polymerase back during promoter escape and RNA chain elongation. This may facilitate productive transcription in vivo.

Abstract RfaH, a paralog of the universally conserved NusG, binds to RNA polymerases (RNAP) and ribosomes to activate expression of virulence genes. In free, autoinhibited RfaH, an α-helical KOW domain sequesters the RNAP-binding site. Upon recruitment to RNAP paused at an ops site, KOW is released and refolds into a β-barrel, which binds the ribosome. Here, we report structures of ops-paused transcription elongation complexes alone and bound to the autoinhibited and activated RfaH, which reveal swiveled, pre-translocated pause states stabilized by an ops hairpin in the non-template DNA. Autoinhibited RfaH binds and twists the ops hairpin, expanding the RNA:DNA hybrid to 11 base pairs and triggering the KOW release. Once activated, RfaH hyper-stabilizes the pause, which thus requires anti-backtracking factors for escape. Our results suggest that the entire RfaH cycle is solely determined by the ops and RfaH sequences and provide insights into mechanisms of recruitment and metamorphosis of NusG homologs across all life.

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate objective treatment efficacy and safety, and subjective patient-reported outcomes in patients with complex ureteral strictures (US) undergoing minimally invasive lingual mucosal graft ureteroplasty (LMGU). Materials and Methods: We prospectively enrolled patients underwent robotic or laparoscopic LMGU between May 2020 and July 2022. Clinical success was defined as symptom-free and no radiographic evidence of re-obstruction. Patient-reported outcomes, including health-related quality of life (HRQoL), mental health status and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), were longitudinally evaluated before surgery, 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Results: Overall, 41 consecutive patients were included. All procedures were performed successfully with 32 patients in robotic approach and 9 in laparoscopic. Forty (97.56%) patients achieved clinical success during the median follow-up of 29 (range 15-41) months. Although patients with complex US experienced poor baseline HRQoL, there was a remarkable improvement following LMGU. Specifically, the 6-month and 12-month postoperative scores were significantly improved compared to the baseline (p < 0.05) in most domains. Twenty-eight (68.3%) and 31 (75.6%) patients had anxiety and depression symptoms before surgery, respectively. However, no significant decrease in the incidence of these symptoms was observed postoperatively. Moreover, there was no significant deterioration of OHRQoL at 6 months and 12 months postoperatively when compared to the baseline. Conclusions: LMGU is a safe and efficient procedure for complex ureteral reconstruction that significantly improves patient-reported HRQoL without compromising OHRQoL. Assessing patients’ quality of life enables us to monitor postoperative recovery and progress, which should be considered as one of the criteria for surgical success.

Abstract Check dams on the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) have captured billions of tons of eroded sediment, substantially reducing sediment load in the Yellow River. However, uncertainties persist regarding the precise sediment capture and the role of these dams in Yellow River flow and sediment dynamics due to the lack of available spatial distribution datasets. We produced the first vectorized dataset of silted land formed by check dams on the CLP, combining high-resolution and easily accessible Google Earth images with object-based classification methods. The accuracy of the dataset was verified by 1947 collected test samples, and the producer’s accuracy and user’s accuracy of the dam lands were 88.9% and 99.5%, respectively. Our dataset not only provides fundamental information for accurately assessing the ecosystem service functions of check dams, but also helps to interpret current changes in sediment delivery of the Yellow River and plan future soil and water conservation projects.

Abstract Background Deleterious BRCA1/2 (BRCA) mutation raises the risk for BRCA mutation-related malignancies, including breast, ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancer. Germline variation of BRCA exhibits substantial ethnical diversity. However, there is limited research on the Chinese Han population, constraining the development of strategies for BRCA mutation screening in this large ethnic group. Methods We profile the BRCA mutational spectrum, including single nucleotide variation, insertion/deletion, and large genomic rearrangements in 2,080 apparently healthy Chinese Han individuals and 522 patients with BRCA mutation-related cancer, to determine the BRCA genetic background of the Chinese Han population, especially of the East Han. Incident cancer events were monitored in 1,005 participants from the healthy group, comprising 11 BRCA pathogenic/likely pathogenic (PLP) variant carriers and 994 PLP-free individuals, including 3 LGR carriers. Results Healthy Chinese Han individuals demonstrated a distinct BRCA mutational spectrum compared to cancer patients, with a 0.53% (1 in 189) prevalence of pathogenic/likely pathogenic (PLP) variant, alongside a 3 in 2,080 occurrence of LGR. BRCA1 c. 5470_5477del demonstrated high prevalence (0.44%) in the North Han Chinese and penetrance for breast cancer. None of the 3 LGR carriers developed cancer during the follow-up. We calculated a relative risk of 135.55 (95% CI 25.07 to 732.88) for the development of BRCA mutation-related cancers in the BRCA PLP variant carriers (mean age 42.91 years, median follow-up 10 months) compared to PLP-free individuals (mean age 48.47 years, median follow-up 16 months). Conclusion The unique BRCA mutational profile in the Chinese Han highlights the potential for standardized population-based BRCA variant screening to enhance BRCA mutation-related cancer prevention and treatment.

Abstract Artificial electronic kagome lattices may emerge from electronic potential landscapes using customized structures with exotic supersymmetries, benefiting from the confinement of Shockley surface-state electrons on coinage metals, which offers a flexible approach to realizing intriguing quantum phases of matter that are highly desired but scarce in available kagome materials. Here, we devise a general strategy to construct varieties of electronic kagome lattices by utilizing the on-surface synthesis of halogen hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (XHOFs). As a proof of concept, we demonstrate three XHOFs on Ag(111) and Au(111) surfaces, which correspondingly deliver regular, breathing, and chiral breathing diatomic-kagome lattices with patterned potential landscapes, showing evident topological edge states at the interfaces. The combination of scanning tunnelling microscopy and noncontact atomic force microscopy, complemented by density functional theory and tight-binding calculations, directly substantiates our method as a reliable and effective way to achieve electronic kagome lattices for engineering quantum states.

In this paper, Cinnamomum cassia polysaccharide (CCP) was extracted and purified, and its physicochemical properties, antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities were investigated. The polysaccharide yield was optimized by the response surface test with three conditions: Temperature, time and liquid-solid ratio. Then the physicochemical properties of purified CCP were investigated by high performance liquid chromatography, thermogravimetric analysis and other methods, meanwhile, its antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities were tested in vitro. Results indicated that the optimum extraction conditions as follow: Extraction temperature 90 ℃, extraction time 2.5 h, liquid-solid ratio 20:1 (mL/g), extraction twice, under these conditions, the average yield was 3.22%. The relative molecular weight of CCP was 1.95×106 Da, the total sugar content was 90.11%±1.24%, and it was stable within 230 ℃. Both Fourier-transform infrared and nuclear magnetic hydrogen spectra showed that CCP had α, β-glycosidic bonds and other structures, in addition, Congo red staining showed that it might not have triple helix structure. Activity assays showed that CCP had good scavenging effect on DPPH·, ABTS+∙, ·OH, with IC50 values of 0.191, 2.835 and 3.221 mg/mL, respectively, and the total reducing power value of the polysaccharide at 6 mg/mL was 1.18. In addition, CCP also had inhibitory activity against α-amylase and α-glucosidase, with IC50 values of 0.189 and 0.340 mg/mL. In this study, a high molecular weight Cinnamomum cassia polysaccharide was extracted and purified, which had good antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities, which may provide a basis for the functional development and utilization of Cinnamomum cassia.

In order to improve the antioxidant activity of Zizania latifolia polysaccharides, sulfate it and explore the optimum modification conditions. Polysaccharides was extracted by water extraction and alcohol precipitation method from Zizania latifolia, then it was separated and purified to obtain a new type of water-soluble polysaccharide. Using formamide as solvent, polysaccharides were sulfated by sulfur trioxide-pyridine method. The degree of substitution (DS) was set as the examination index, the optimal sulfonation conditions were selected by response surface method. Through the free radical scavenging rate trial in vitro, compared with natural polysaccharides, to explore the changes of antioxidant activity of sulfated polysaccharides in vitro. The results showed that the optimum reaction conditions obtained as polysaccharide 100 mg, time 4 h, temperature 70 ℃, sulfur trioxide-pyridine complex 2.6 g. The optimum DS was 1.79. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the fastest weight loss rate of Zizania latifolia polysaccharides was 16.48% at 46.38 ℃, and the sulfated polysaccharides was 2.92% at 65.04 ℃. In the antioxidant test in vitro, the IC50 of free radical scavenging ability of Zizania latifolia polysaccharides to DPPH·, ·OH and ABTS+· were 3.49, 3.28 and 12.70 mg/mL respectively. The sulfated polysaccharides of Zizania latifolia polysaccharides were 0.39, 1.00 and 1.82 mg/mL respectively, and the positive control (VC) was 0.069, 0.17 and 0.077 mg/mL respectively. In summary, sulfation modification can enhance the thermal stability of Zizania latifolia polysaccharides and enhance its free radical scavenging ability to some extent.

Efficient and environmentally friendly production of high-quality continuous fiber coatings using current preparation methods is highly challenging due to issues such as scale and batch processing restrictions, low deposition rate, high energy consumption, and utilization of multiple environmentally hazardous steps. To address these challenges, we propose a stable and efficient wet chemical deposition coating method for high-throughput online continuous preparation of boron nitride (BN) coatings on ceramic fibers under an ambient environment. Our process involves surface modification, in-situ wet chemical deposition, and heat treatment, and all seamlessly connecting with the ceramic fiber preparation process through continuous stretching. Hydrophilic groups were introduced via surface modification enhancing wettability of the fiber surface with impregnating solution. An in-situ reaction and atom migration improve uniformity and binding of the coating. As a result, outstanding impregnation and adhesion properties are achieved. A comprehensive analysis to evaluate the impact of the BN coatings was conducted, which demonstrates that the BN-coated fibers exhibit a remarkable 36% increase in tensile strength, a 133% increase in fracture toughness, and enhanced temperature resistance of up to 1600 ℃. It provides a secure and efficient platform for cost-effective production of functional and high-quality coatings through targeted surface modification and rapid stretching impregnation.

Coal has made important contributions to the industrialization process of human society, and has played a key supporting role in ensuring China’s energy security and stable economic development. Since the mid-19th century, the coal-based fuel of coal, kerosene, gas and coal electricity has gradually entered the era of large-scale use. However, the traditional use of coal produces high carbon emissions, which has become a major problem in energy transition. Facing the development of ecological civilization society, the clean and efficient use of coal is imminent, and the innovation of modern coal-based energy technology is imperative. This paper proposes the definition and connotation of modern coal-based energy technology system, which is defined as the production of low-carbon energy products such as coal-based gas, coal-based oil, coal-based hydrogen and coal-based electricity, and the in-situ absorption of carbon dioxide in mining areas to form a clean and low-carbon energy production system with carbon neutrality. Its technical connotation includes coal-based gas, coal-based oil, coal-based hydrogen, coal-based electricity and dynamic carbon neutrality in mining areas, with a total of 5 technical modules, 19 technical units and 61 key technologies. The modern coal-based energy technology system will play an important role of “one main body, three supports and one breakthrough” in the future new energy system. Coal-based electricity provides the main body of electricity system stability. Coal-based oil supports the China’s oil safety. Coal-based gas supports the China’s gas safety. Coal-based hydrogen plays a supporting role in the development of hydrogen energy in China. The major breakthrough is the dynamic carbon neutral technology of coal-based energy. The paper supposes that when the ratio of non-fossil energy and low-carbon coal-based energy is maintained in the range of 2.5−3.0, coal-based energy, oil and gas and wind, water, nuclear energy can be reasonably integrated to form a new quality energy system with strong complementarity, high reliability and low carbon emissions. Based on the major breakthrough and practical application of modern coal-based energy technology, it is predicted that China’s low-carbon coal-based energy production will reach 1.02 billion −1.46 billion tons of standard coal equivalent (tce) in 2060, equivalent to 18%−24% of the national energy demand, and carbon dioxide emissions will be controlled below 500 million tons. Compared with the current energy transformation planning path based on “de coal” planning, the share of coal in our energy system can increase from 10% to more than 20%, and carbon dioxide emissions will reduce by 50%. At that time, the modern coal-based energy system has great technological innovation significance for China’s energy security and carbon dioxide emission reduction, and helps China to become a country with independent energy supply.

Abstract In China, traditional medications for osteoporosis have significant side effects, low compliance, and high costs, making it urgent to explore new treatment options. Probiotics have demonstrated superiority in the treatment of various chronic diseases, and the reduction of bone mass in postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) is closely related to the degradation and metabolism of intestinal probiotics. It is crucial to explore the role and molecular mechanisms of probiotics in alleviating PMOP through their metabolites, as well as their therapeutic effects. We aim to identify key probiotics and their metabolites that affect bone loss in PMOP through 16srDNA sequencing combined with non-targeted metabolomics sequencing, and explore the impact and possible mechanisms of key probiotics and their metabolites on the progression of PMOP in the context of osteoporosis caused by estrogen deficiency. The sequencing results showed a significant decrease in Lactobacillus acidophilus and butyrate in PMOP patients. In vivo experiments confirmed that the intervention of L. acidophilus and butyrate significantly inhibited osteoclast formation and bone resorption activity, improved intestinal barrier permeability, suppressed B cells, and the production of RANKL on B cells, effectively reduced systemic bone loss induced by oophorectomy, with butyric acid levels regulated by L. acidophilus. Consistently, in vitro experiments have confirmed that butyrate can directly inhibit the formation of osteoclasts and bone resorption activity. The above research results indicate that there are various pathways through which L. acidophilus inhibits osteoclast formation and bone resorption activity through butyrate. Intervention with L. acidophilus may be a safe and promising treatment strategy for osteoclast related bone diseases, such as PMOP.

Abstract Arsenic (As) detoxification in polluted soils by iron-based materials can be mediated by the endogenous soil organic matter (SOM), nevertheless the mechanisms remain unclear. Herein, endogenous SOM in a paddy soil was substantially removed to understand its roles on As immobilization by biochar-supported zero-valent iron (ZVI/BC). The results demonstrated that ZVI/BC application significantly decreased As bioavailability by 64.2% compared with the control soil under the anaerobic condition. XPS and HR-TEM suggested As immobilization by ZVI/BC mainly invoked the formation of ternary complexes (i.e., As-Fe-SOM). However, SOM depletion compromised the efficacy of ZVI/BC for As immobilization by 289.8%. This is likely because SOM depletion increased the fulvic acid and OH− contents in soils. Besides, ZVI/BC increased the proportion of As(III) in available As fraction, but SOM depletion altered the mechanisms associated with As(V) reduction. That is, As(V) reduction resulted from the reductive capacity of ZVI in the pristine soil, but the As(V)-reducing bacteria contributed greater to As(V) reduction in the SOM-depleted soil. Additionally, SOM depletion boosted the abundances of Fe(III)- and As(V)-reducing bacteria such as Bacillus and Ammoniphilus in soils, which enhanced the dissimilatory arsenate reduction. Thus, this work highlighted the importance of SOM in the remediation of As-contaminated soils by ZVI/BC. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Transition metal oxides (TMOs) exhibit fascinating physicochemical properties, which originate from the diverse coordination structures between the transition metal and oxygen atoms. Accurate determination of such structure-property relationships of TMOs requires to correlate structural and electronic properties by capturing the global parameters with high resolution in energy, real, and momentum spaces, but it is still challenging. Herein, we report the determination of characteristic electronic structures from diverse coordination environments on the prototypical anatase-TiO2(001) with (1 × 4) reconstruction, using high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy/atomic force microscopy, in combination with density functional theory calculation. We unveil that the shifted positions of O 2s and 2p levels and the gap-state Ti 3p levels can sensitively characterize the O and Ti coordination environments in the (1 × 4) reconstructed surface, which show distinguishable features from those in bulk. Our findings provide a paradigm to interrogate the intricate reconstruction-relevant properties in many other TMO surfaces.

Abstract Immunotherapy is the first-line therapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), yet many patients do not respond due to drug resistance and the lack of reliable predictive markers. We collected 73 ESCC patients (including discovery cohort and validation cohort) without immune thrombocytopenia and undergoing anti-PD1 immunotherapy. Proteomic and phosphoproteomic analysis of 73 ESCC treatment-naive samples by mass spectrometry-based label-free quantification were applied to explore the potential resistant and sensitive mechanisms, and identify predictive markers of ESCC immunotherapy. Comparative analysis found the pathways related to immune and mitochondrial functions were associated with ESCC immunotherapy sensitivity; while platelet activation bioprocess showed negative correlation with CD8+ T cells and related to ESCC immunotherapy non-sensitivity. Finally, we identified 10 ESCC immunotherapy predictive biomarkers with high accuracy (≥ 0.90) to predict the immunotherapeutic response, which was validated in the independent cohort.

A new species of pholcid spiders, Pholcus fengmeii Zhang, He & Yao, sp. nov. (♂♀), is described from Liaoning Province, China. The new species belongs to the speciose phungiformes species group. Taxonomic keys to four closely related species are provided.

Abstract To explore the influencing factors of consumers’ impulsive purchase behavior in live streaming, based on the Stimulus-Organism-Response framework, we construct the model of how streamers influence consumers’ impulsive purchase behavior by consulting literature. Collected data by means of a questionnaire, and made an empirical study by using the structural equation model to explore the mechanism of streamer affecting consumers’ impulsive purchase behavior. The results show that streamer characteristics (personal charisma, professionalism) and streamer performance (interactivity, entertainment) affect consumers’ impulsive purchase behavior by affecting consumers’ trust and flow experience. The empirical results have important theoretical and practical significance.

Abstract Background Hybridization capture-based targeted next generation sequencing (NGS) is gaining importance in routine cancer clinical practice. DNA library preparation is a fundamental step to produce high-quality sequencing data. Numerous unexpected, low variant allele frequency calls were observed in libraries using sonication fragmentation and enzymatic fragmentation. In this study, we investigated the characteristics of the artifact reads induced by sonication and enzymatic fragmentation. We also developed a bioinformatic algorithm to filter these sequencing errors. Results We used pairwise comparisons of somatic single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and insertions and deletions (indels) of the same tumor DNA samples prepared using both ultrasonic and enzymatic fragmentation protocols. Our analysis revealed that the number of artifact variants was significantly greater in the samples generated using enzymatic fragmentation than using sonication. Most of the artifacts derived from the sonication-treated libraries were chimeric artifact reads containing both cis- and trans-inverted repeat sequences of the genomic DNA. In contrast, chimeric artifact reads of endonuclease-treated libraries contained palindromic sequences with mismatched bases. Based on these distinctive features, we proposed a mechanistic hypothesis model, PDSM (pairing of partial single strands derived from a similar molecule), by which these sequencing errors derive from ultrasonication and enzymatic fragmentation library preparation. We developed a bioinformatic algorithm to generate a custom mutation “blacklist” in the BED region to reduce errors in downstream analyses. Conclusions We first proposed a mechanistic hypothesis model (PDSM) of sequencing errors caused by specific structures of inverted repeat sequences and palindromic sequences in the natural genome. This new hypothesis predicts the existence of chimeric reads that could not be explained by previous models, and provides a new direction for further improving NGS analysis accuracy. A bioinformatic algorithm, ArtifactsFinder, was developed and used to reduce the sequencing errors in libraries produced using sonication and enzymatic fragmentation.

Physical soil crust (PSC), a key component of surface soil structure, exists extensively in loess areas. PSC is considered to have a significant effect on soil detachment processes. However, the long-term effects and the corresponding mechanisms of PSC on soil detachment by overland flow are still not well understood, especially in natural environments. To investigate temporal variation in soil erosion resistance and the underlying factors during PSC formation, an 8 × 8-m soil plot was exposed to natural conditions in the Loess Plateau over a 524-day period spanning two rainy seasons and a winter between them. A flume test was conducted to determine soil detachment capacity (Dc) under six designed flow shear stress levels (5.66–22.11 Pa) using crusted (SC) and non-crusted (NSC) soil samples at different PSC development stages. Subsequently, two soil erosion resistance parameters, rill erodibility (Kr) and critical shear stress (τc), were calculated. Over time, in the SC and NSC treatments, Kr decreased from 0.516 to 0.120 s m−1 and 0.521 to 0.223 s m−1, respectively, while τc increased from 0.49 to 4.42 Pa and 0.26–2.46 Pa, respectively. Variation in soil erosion resistance was rapid in the first one to two months, and then slowed down, with slight fluctuations afterwards. In the SC treatment, Kr was 42% lower and τc was 67% greater than those in the NSC treatment. Soil properties changed greatly for both treatments. SCT increased from 0 to 7.09 mm in the SC treatment. Coh increased from 2.91 to 9.04 kPa and 3.01–4.78 kPa in SC and NSC treatments, respectively. Both soil erosion resistance parameters could be well predicted by SCT and Coh in the SC treatment (R2 ≥ 0.82), while their best predictor was Coh in the NSC treatment (R2 ≥ 0.90). The results demonstrate that PSC formation enhances soil erosion resistance in the soil detachment process in the loess region under natural conditions. Our study revealed the important role and complexity of PSC in the process of soil erosion, and provided theoretical and data support for accurate understanding and prediction of soil erosion.

Due to the pathological production of liver disease in utility particularly complexity, the morbidity and mortality of liver disease including viral hepatitis, liver fibrosis/cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are rapidly increasing worldwide. Considering its insidious onset, rapid progression and drug resistance, finding an effective therapy is particularly worthwhile. Phyllanthus urinaria L. (P. urinaria), an ethnic medicine, can be applied at the stages of viral hepatitis, liver fibrosis/cirrhosis and HCC, which demonstrates great potential in the treatment of liver disease. Currently, there are numerous reports on the application of P. urinaria in treating liver diseases, but a detailed analysis of its metabolites and a complete summary of its pharmacological mechanism are still scarce. In this review, the phytochemical metabolites and ethnopharmacological applications of P. urinaria are summarized. Briefly, P. urinaria mainly contains flavonoids, lignans, tannins, phenolic acids, terpenoids and other metabolites. The mechanisms of P. urinaria are mainly reflected in reducing surface antigen secretion and interfering with DNA polymerase synthesis for anti-viral hepatitis activity, reducing hepatic stellate cells activity, inflammation and oxidative stress for anti-liver fibrosis/cirrhosis activity, as well as preventing tumor proliferation, invasion and angiogenesis for anti-HCC activity via relevant signaling pathways. Accordingly, this review provides insights into the future application of natural products in the trilogy of liver diseases and will provide a scientific basis for further research and rational utilization of P. urinaria.

Abstract The strong potential of platinum single atom (PtSA) in gas sensor technology is primarily attributed to its high atomic economy. Nevertheless, it is imperative to conduct further exploration to understand the impact of PtSA on the active sites. In this study, the evolution of PtSA on (100)CeO2 and (111)CeO2 is examined, revealing notable disparities in the position and activity of surface PtSA on different crystal planes. The PtSA in (100)CeO2 surface can enhance the stability of Ce3+ and construct a frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) to form a double active site by combining the steric hindrance effect of oxygen vacancies, which increases the response value from 1.8 to 27 and reduce the response‐recovery time from 140–192 s to 25–26 s toward five ppm NO2 at room temperature. Conversely, PtSA tends to bind to terminal oxygen on the surface of (111)CeO2 and become an independent reaction site. The response value of PtSA‐(111)CeO2 surface only increased from 1.6 to 3.8. This research underscores the correlation between single atoms and crystal plane effects, laying the groundwork for designing and synthesizing ultra‐stable and efficient gas sensors.

Abstract Deep‐blue multi‐resonance (MR) emitters with stable and narrow full‐width‐at‐half‐maximum (FWHM) are of great importance for widening the color gamut of organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs). However, most planar MR emitters are vulnerable to intermolecular interactions from both the host and guest, causing spectral broadening and exciton quenching in thin films. Their emission in the solid state is environmentally sensitive, and the color purity is often inferior to that in solutions. Herein, a molecular design strategy is presented that simultaneously narrows the FWHM and suppresses intermolecular interactions by combining intramolecular locking and peripheral shielding within a carbonyl/nitrogen‐based MR core. Intramolecularly locking carbonyl/nitrogen‐based bears narrower emission of 2,10‐dimethyl‐12,12‐diphenyl‐4H‐benzo[9,1]quinolizino[3,4,5,6,7‐defg]acridine‐4,8(12H)‐dione in solution and further with peripheral‐shielding groups, deep‐blue emitter (12,12‐diphenyl‐2,10‐bis(9‐phenyl‐9H‐fluoren‐9‐yl)−4H‐benzo[9,1]quinolizino[3,4,5,6,7‐defg]acridine‐4,8(12H)‐dione, DPQAO‐F) exhibits ultra‐pure emission with narrow FWHM (c.a., 24 nm) with minimal variations (∆FWHM ≤ 3 nm) from solution to thin films over a wide doping range. An OLED based on DPQAO‐F presents a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQEmax) of 19.9% and color index of (0.134, 0.118). Furthermore, the hyper‐device of DPQAO‐F exhibits a record‐high EQEmax of 32.7% in the deep‐blue region, representing the first example of carbonyl/nitrogen‐based OLED that can concurrently achieve narrow bandwidth in the deep‐blue region and a high electroluminescent efficiency surpassing 30%.